Valero Texas Open 2022 - TPC San Antonio (Oaks Course), Texas

 One week to go before the Masters and it's a visit to San Antonio, Texas for some players looking to hone their game ahead of the year's first Major. 

I am very tempted by Hideki this week as he looks forward to defending at Augusta next week, hosting the past winners meal and all the trappings that come with winning a green jacket!I thought the 20/1 on offer here was value but with just the one visit (last year) returning a lowly 30th finish though, I opted to look for some value further down the field and have sided with the 4 players below. As with Sam Burns two weeks ago, here's hoping that Hideki doesn't go in. There is  a good bit of value to be had this week, if we are concluding that the top of the market may not be necessarily at 100% so the 4 below are chanced with McGreevy a personal bet as mentioned in previous previews, but added to the blogs P&L as the 500s is too big (300s in my book)

Selections

1 pt e/w Kevin Streelman @ 50/1 - 8 places
1 pt e/w Luke List @ 50/1 - 8 places
1 pt e/w Matt Kuchar @ 80/1 - 8 places
0.5 pt e/w Max McGreevy   @ 500/1 - 8 places

Corales Puntacana Championship 2022 - Corales GC, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

 I've no betting interest in the WGC Matchplay and despite having a great interest in playing matchplay myself at club level over the years, I don't think the TV viewing is worth the time either so whilst I will probably tune in for some action over the latter stages its not an event that grabs my attention. Instead I'll have a play at the Corales Puntacana Championship to be played in the Dominican Republic where I cannot ignore my namesake @ 80/1.

I'm still smarting for not backing Sam Burns last week as mentioned in the blog as he was one I considered, but I fell short on time last week as my family headed off for the extended St. Patrick's Day holiday. It's not the first time either that I've fallen into this trap, so a lesson was learned to get the bets on and if stuck for time simply post a one-liner on the blog. That said, whilst my blog posts are becoming shorter and shorter, the same procedure each week hasn't changed where I make my own tissue, create a shortlist and focus in on the value. Writing the post to reason the selection is becoming more of a challenge for me but I'd rather spend more time analyzing and placing my bets. In the case of Max McGreevy, he is a pick based on name, a name that doesn't appear on world sports stages very often and although not a relation (well, maybe he is if we go back far enough).He played well in Puerto Rico to finish 2nd and gain some invaluable FedEx Cup points and has followed that result up by making the cut at the Valspar last week. A field more akin to a Korn Ferry Tour event this week gives the Oklahoma kid another opportunity to produce a decent result and the 80/1 is just about fair

Winner here two years ago and a 6th when defending last March, Hudson Swafford has since won again as lately as last January when winning the American Express. Four missed cuts in his five starts since the win is not encouraging for sure but with a weaker field and a course that he has proved to be to his liking, the 40/1 with 7 places is just about fair enough and enough to get him onto the staking plan.

I've added Mark Hubbard on the back of solid form shown on the aforementioned KFT when finishing 5-6 in his last 2 starts on that tour sandwiched by 38-15 on the PGA Tour. The 30/1 - 6 places is of real interest. Finally, my last selection for the week is a chance at 44 yr old Jonathan Byrd who has shown a real return to form this season having posted a T10 at the AT&T Pro-Am and a T-20 in Bermuda, two coastal tracks which we have here in Punta Cana. The 125/1 - 7 places is value for a player who has won 5 times on the PGA Tour and who has a posted best finish of 4th here in 2019 behind Graeme McDowell

Selections

1 pt e/w M. McGreevy @ 80/1 - 7 places
1 pt e/w H. Swafford @ 40/1 - 7 places
1.5 pt e/w M. Hubbard @ 30/1 - 7 places
0.5 pt e/w J. Byrd @ 125/1 - 7 places

JTBC Classic 2022 - Carlsbad, CA

 The field is headed by the seemingly unbeatable, Yin Young Ko (5/1) and she is followed in the market by Lydia Ko (12/1), the in-form Danielle Kang (18/1) and course specialist, Inbee Park (20/1).

However, I'm very surprised, but pleasantly surprised to see Leona Maguire chalked up @ 28/1 - 6 places. Leona played here last year in her rookie season to finish a lowly 54th but she's in form and appeared quite content and settled during her press conference yesterday and whilst she may have one eye on the first Major of the year at Mission Hills next week, Leona is in form and will relish Carlsbad this time round where her strong approach and putting game will be an asset. It won't be long before we see 16s and lower against the Cavan native for the rest of the season, a price I made her for this and the "big guns" don't present any fear to this determined competitor.

Selection

1 pt e/w L. Maguire @ 28/1 - 6 places

Qatar Masters 2022 - Doha GC, Qatar

 Romain Langasque somehow decided to bogey his 72nd hole last week and drop out of the places but I'm happy to stick with him here again this week at Doha GC where by all accounts the wind will be up and a level headed, experienced golfer will be needed on the staking plan. We dont have an overly top field here this week again and he's a player that is certainly rounding into some consistency and can go in on Sunday @ 28/1 - 7 places.

I mentioned last week that I did fancy the chances of Marcus Armitage for the Steyn City Championship and whilst he didn't contend, his 40th place finish has followed up on placings of 11-17-9-35-12 since the Dubai Desert Classic. I think the 33/1 - 7 places is more than fair here.

I'm also siding with Grant Forrest this week @ 100/1 - 6 places . Is there value in the price? Maybe not but having gone over my shortlists in these type of field strengths over the years, I've noted that a lot on the shortlist have done well where they were not included on my final staking plan, to the point I do recognize that these events (Strength of field) really are tough to assess. We have a coastal course where wind is a factor and a course although not a links, plays like one and suits those that have solid Open & links form (Dunhill, Irish Opens at links courses e.g. Lahinch T-4th). Grant has the experience and is not without a chance this week.

Selections

2 pt e/w R. Langasque @ 28/1 - 7 places

1.5 pt e/w M. Armitage @ 33/1 - 7 places

0.75 pt e/w G. Forrest @ 100/1 - 6 places

Valspar Championship 2022 - Copperhead GC,Innsbrook, Florida

 Had a few on the shortlist but struggled genuinely to find genuine value for the Valspar Championship although I was tempted to back Sam Burns, Shano, Ancer and Kokrak.  In the end I'm just backing Max McGreevy @ 300/1 - 8 places

Selection

.5 pt e/w M. McGreevy @ 300/1 - 8 places 

 

Steyn City Championship 2022 - The Club @ Steyn City, South Africa

 It was a late finish to The Players Championship last night, and being St. Patrick's Day this Thursday where the Irish Government has extended the public holiday over the weekend, I'm tight for time as I head off with the family tomorrow to get some down-time. 

In summary so, it's just the selections I'm posting as I'm keen to get onboard in Sth. Africa and possibly the Valspar also pending the withdrawals as a fallout of the delayed Players Championship at Sawgrass.

Whilst Ross Fisher did yield some returns last week, his result was a little disappointing and I don't think he'll get a much better chance to win again soon as he did last weekend. (he may just go on and win now this week but I won't be onboard)

Three for me here (leaving out the following as deemed too short; Armitage (really like his chances here), Brun, Long & Laporta)

Selections

1 pt e/w Romain Langasque @ 30/1 - 6 places
1 pt e/w Laurie Canter @ 30/1 - 7 places
1 pt e/w Ashun Wu @ 40/1 - 7 places

MyGolfLife Open 2022 - Pecanwood GC, Hartbeespoort, South Africa

 The DPT cosies up with the Sunshine tour again this week, and again next week too and they are a couple of tourneys that I don't want to get too involved in especially when we have The Players Championship in play and then a run in to the Masters in April.

Not much to go on here in terms of course form but it's a Jack Nicklaus design at ~7800 yds (similar length to Killeen Castle , Jack's second design in Ireland). I'm siding with players who can get it down there and hit greens and in doing so, I'm keen to get home players on board as well as a revisit to the well with Ross Fisher (!) The Englishman is playing well of late having posted a 2nd placing last time out in Ras al Khaimah to go with his T-20 the week beforehand. Ross has form in South Africa from his past too, having won the Tshwane Open way back in 2014 but I'm interested in a small play in the hope that he can feed off the recent results and a visit to the Pretoria region that just may rekindle those good memories from Copperleaf GC and outplay his odds of 50/1 - 7 places

I'm going to add Brandon Stone, Jacques Kruyswijk & Thriston Lawrence to the staking plan. 

Lawrence is in great form on the Sunshine Tour having won the Joburg Open in November and followed up that success when posting TOP-20s at the South African Open & The Ras al Khaimah Classic before finishing 2nd last week in Nairobi. At 80/1 - 7 places I thought that was too big as the 25 year old is clearly in form. Twice winner of the South African Amateur, Lawrence is overpriced.

I put both Stone & Kruyswijk up 4 times each in 2021 with just the one return when Kruyswijk placed at The Austrian Open. Kruyswijk performs best on South African soil and his long game could be a boost to his chances at Pecanwood. At 100/1 6 places I thought he was worth taking ahead of 66s for the extra place whereas Brandon Stone can click any given week despite slipping down the rankings the past twelve months. The Joburg native is a threat on home soil and can contend this week @ 50/1 - 7 places.

Selections

1 pt e/w R. Fisher @ 50/1 - 7 places

1 pt e/w T. Lawrence @ 80/1 - 7 places

1 pt e/w J.Kruyswijk @ 100/1 - 6 places

1 pt e/w B. Stone @ 50/1 - 7 places

The Players Championship 2022 - TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

I wanted to get on board early with Collin Morikawa this week so tweeted the 2.5 pts e/w selection @ 15/1 - 8 places late Sunday evening as Bay Hill was coming to its conclusion. I was then reminded by a follower that recent winners have all posted a TOP-20 at The Players previously of which Morikawa hasn't yet produced here. Hopefully that trend stops this week ! I thought his price might drift to be honest but 24 hours later he seems to be holding favouritism alongside Justin Thomas, the defending champion and Jon Rahm. Speaking of bucking the trend, JT aims to become the first to defend his title and go back to back at the Pete Dye designed TPC Sawgrass. Phil Mickelson & Bryson de Chambeau are still missing in action and Kevin Na s a late withdrawal as he awaits the birth of his third child during the week.

"The 5th Major" as its often called moved from its May slot to its new slot in March in 2019 where we saw Rory win. It was at this event in 2020 when the PGA Tour went into lockdown during the unfinished first round so its just the two March events to date that are in the record books. A who's who of world golf adorns the roll of honour at The Players and I think we'll see that trend continue come Sunday. Morikawa arrives having not played since Riviera but it may find that he's fresher than those that endured a tough Bay Hill last week.

I'll add 3 other players to the staking plan this week in Daniel Berger @ 33/1 - 9 places, Shane Lowry @ 35/1 - 11 places (eleven!) and of course, Alex Noren @ 100/1 - 9 places. Berger may indeed be smarting from his collapse at the Honda but he should be able to dust himself down and be ready to go again and continue producing solid results to complement his 3 TOP-10s from 5 starts this season. He has Sawgrass form and the price is more than fair. Lowry was added in lieu of Talor Gooch as I think Lowry is edging back to some solid form of late and Sawgrass should suit his game. He's posted an 8th place finish (2021) and a TOP-20 in 2016 and tees it up on the back of his near miss at the aforementioned Honda Classic when looking like the winner coming in. No need to reiterate Norens potential this week; he's in form and giving me a run for my money of late and @ the 100's with 9 places abegging he can't be left out at a course where he has posted 1 T-10 & a T-20 from his 4 visits.

Selections

2.5 pts e/w C. Morikawa @ 15/1 - 8 places
1.5 pts e/w D. Berger @ 33/1 - 9 places
1.5 pts e/w S.Lowry @ 35/1 - 11 places
.75 pts e/w A. Noren @ 100/1 - 9 places

Arnold Palmer Invitational 2022 - Bay Hill, Windermere, Florida

 Straight accurate ball strikers have always excelled at Bay Hill and given the level of golf we've seen already this season, it looks like we need a player onside each week that tees it up on the Thursday in good form and hitting it well and featuring strongly on the SG:T2G stats over the previous weeks. That being said, players like Justin Rose and Marc Leishman can show up this week and produce another solid result.

Cameron Young was backed twice already this season and I left him him as he pushed Joaquin Niemann at Riviera but as alluded to when first putting him last month, he's a player to watch out for this year and I'm more than happy to go again here this week @ 66/1 - 8 places. The price is just about fair but it's a price I think will reduce over the course of this season for Cameron's chances.

Lanto Griffin has been in fine form having posted 4 TOP-20s in his 10 starts this season. Two visits to Bay Hill have yielded 21-36 placings the last two years so course experience is under his belt and is expected to go better this time round. At 80/1 - 8 places, I think he's worth having onside. Ranked in and around 50th on tour this season for both SG:T2G & SG:APR, the Virginian has the skills and form to compete against the best assembled and is decent value to boot.

Jason Kokrak is one that could win again soon. The 36 year old Canadian won the recent Houston Open to claim his 3rd PGA Tour title and has followed that up with 4 OKish results in Hawaii,Saudi Arabia and recently finishing 26th at Riviera. His 9 previous visits to Bay Hill have yielded 4 TOP-10s plus a further 2 TOP-20s. He's comfortable here and @ 40/1 - 8 places is added to my staking plan.

Whilst I wanted to get involved in the Puerto Rico Open, I have decided to give it a miss and add two more players for the Arnold Palmer Invitational. In come Marc Leishman & Justin Rose @ 30/1 & 50/1 respectively paying 8 places. The Aussie won here back in 2017 and has posted further TOP-3s in 2020 & 2011, the 2020 event having been edged out by a stroke by Tyrell Hatton. Six TOP-20s from his 8 starts this season shows Marc Leishman is playing well, from which he has posted 2 T-5s at The Shriners and the Fortinet Championship. Rose may be sidetracked these days by off-course commitments and endorsement deals but his switch back to his old clubs seems to be a positive mood as demonstrated at Torrey Pines when finishing 6th and 9th in the Bahamas. 

The LPGA arrives in Singapore this week for the HSBC Women's World Championship where World Number One, Yin Young KO arrives hoping to continue an incredulous streak of hitting 63 greens in regulation ! She's the one to beat for sure if re-producing that kind of form but I'm backing Leona Maguire again here to go in again having captured her first LPGA title LTO at the Drive-On Championship in Florida. The Cavan native is value @ 25/1 - 6 places even in an Irish Bookie!

Selections

Bay Hill

1 pt e/w M. Leishman @ 30/1 - 8 places
1 pt e/w J. Kokrak @ 40/1 - 8 places
1 pt e/w J. Rose @ 50/1 - 8 places
1 pt e/w L. Griffin @ 80/1 - 8 places
1 pt e/w C. Young @ 66/1 - 8 places

Tanjong - Sentosa GC (LPGA)

2 pts e/w L. Maguire @ 25/1 - 6 places

Kenya Open 2022 - Muthaiga GC, Nairobi, Kenya

 The DP Tour resumes this week in Kenya where South Africans, Dean Burmester & Justin Harding head the betting. The event switches to Muthaiga GC from Karen GC where we will see 5 par-3s in play along with 4 par-5s. By all accounts this is a traditional style course but with plenty of water about. Again this week, a strong tee to green game is required I believe this week. With the little research I've put in for this event, I'm not going to get over involved here without not only knowing the course too well, but also recognising that despite the two at the head of the betting having been recent winners, the field is very open and not particularly strong.

I got a bit of run for my money last time out with both Oliver Bekker & Yannik Paul and I'm more than happy to side with both again here. Bekker may be pushing on in years but that hasn't stopped Richard Bland performing on tour the past twelve months or so, and so the South African is taken to keep form and to contend here @ 33/1 - 8 places. Two TOP-10s in Ras al Khaimah can be converted to a better result in Nairobi.

Paul is strong off the tee ranking TOP-30 for both SG:OTT & SG:T2G to date this season on tour. From his 3 starts this season he's posted 33-53-8 and if he brings a warm putter this week can improve those returns somewhat @ 66/1 - 7 places

Selections

1.5 pt e/w O. Bekker @ 33/1 - 8 places
1 pt e/w Y. Paul @ 66/1 - 7 places